Jamshedpur Sendra: Tribals call meeting on April 3 to celebrate ‘festival of hunting’

Jamshedpur, March 30: Dalma Buru Sendra Samity (DBSS) has made an appeal to the tribal community to celebrate the annual festival in a symbolic manner but it is not taking chances when it comes to the safety of animals. DBSS made an appeal to the tribal community to celebrate Sendra in a symbolic manner. Rakesh Hembrom, chief priest of the Samity, said that an appeal has been made to the tribal community but will not take any chances when it comes to the safety of animals.

The DBSS has convened a meeting on April 3 to discuss preparations for Sendra. Dalma authorities have also been invited for the meeting. “Dates of the festival will be announced at the meeting. Sendra will be celebrated sometime in May,” Hembrom added.

The forest department’s drive to conserve wildlife by putting a ban on hunting and killing of wild animals, tribals have shown results with Sendra  Samiti, Dalma and villagers declaring to celebrate their indigenous annual hunting festival peacefully. Hembrom re-iterated that there would be no bloodshed. ” We have asked the hunters not to carry nets, guns or any  tranquilisers. This year the focus would be much on cultural programmes and related activities,” he said.

Chhote Hembrom, the adviser to the samiti said that they would also keep a close watch on hunters from neighbouring Bengal and Odisha who climb the hill with lethal weapons.

” We will prevent entry of hunters from the neighbouring states, who usually take shelter in the Dalma wildlife sanctuary the night preceding the festival,” he said, adding that the samiti members would keep a vigil on all the entry points to the sanctuary.

The samiti informed them about their decision. The samiti would also appeal to all the tribal organisations in the next couple of days to not kill animals during Sendra but observe token rituals.

Jointly with the Dhalbhum forest division, the samiti would also chalk out the cultural and other programmes to be organised on the day of the festival to attract the tribals.

“We are hopeful that the tribals would wake up early in the morning and worship their deities but will not go ahead for hunting as the senior functionaries of the Sendra Samiti have assured us about their plans, “noted a Dalma range forest officer.